Abstract
Abstract The phase modulator is a key component in optical communications for its phase modulation functions. In this paper, we numerically demonstrate a variety of ultra-compact high-efficiency graphene phase modulators (GPMs) based on metal–nanoribbon integrated hybrid plasmonic waveguides in the near-infrared region. Benefiting from the good in-plane mode polarization matching and strong hybrid surface plasmon polariton and graphene interaction, the 20 μm-length GPM can achieve excellent phase modulation performance with a good phase and amplitude decoupling effect, a low insertion loss around 0.3 dB/μm, a high modulation efficiency with V π L π of 118.67 V μm at 1.55 μm, which is 1–3 orders improvement compared to the state-of-the-art graphene modulators. Furthermore, it has a wide modulation bandwidth of 67.96 GHz, a low energy consumption of 157.49 fJ/bit, and a wide operating wavelength ranging from 1.3 to 1.8 μm. By reducing the overlap width of the graphene–Al2O3–graphene capacitor, the modulation bandwidth and energy consumption of the modulator can be further improved to 370.36 GHz and 30.22 fJ/bit, respectively. These compact and energy-efficient GPMs may hold a key to various high-speed telecommunications, interconnects, and other graphene-based integrated photonics applications.
Highlights
As one of the crucial components for optical communications [1, 2], sensing [3], and integrated optical interconnections and circuits [4], optical modulators have gained considerable attention in recent years [5]
We numerically demonstrate a variety of ultracompact high-efficiency graphene phase modulators (GPMs) based on metal–nanoribbon integrated hybrid plasmonic waveguides in the near-infrared region
By reducing the overlap width of the graphene–Al2O3–graphene capacitor, the modulation bandwidth and energy consumption of the modulator can be further improved to 370.36 GHz and 30.22 fJ/bit, respectively
Summary
As one of the crucial components for optical communications [1, 2], sensing [3], and integrated optical interconnections and circuits [4], optical modulators have gained considerable attention in recent years [5]. There is a trade-off between optical loss, footprint, and VπLπ for the current GPMs. how to drastically increase the light-graphene interaction and develop broadband high-performance GPMs with much higher modulation efficiency, smaller modulation length, and lower energy consumption, as well as maintain excellent decoupling between phase and amplitude modulation in the nearinfrared region remains a challenge. We demonstrate a new type of highefficiency GPM based on a dual-semicircular-metal–nanoribbon integrated graphene–insulator–graphene capacitor hybrid plasmonic waveguide structure for near-infrared applications In this design, the surface plasmon polariton mode confinement, polarization matching (in-plane electric field components of graphene), and light-graphene interactions are drastically enhanced, enabling excellent phase modulation performance. This work provides a new path for the design of high-efficiency GPMs relied on hybrid plasmonic effects and may have great potentials in near-infrared interconnects and telecommunication applications
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